Hon Anne Tolley
Minister of Corrections
25 September 2013
Prison changes to increase rehab and safety
Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says a number of prison regulations are being changed which will affect remand and
transgender prisoners.
Firstly, remand prisoners will soon have an individual security classification, replacing the current system where all
remand offenders are treated as high security.
This will mean that remand prisoners who do not pose a high security risk will have better access to appropriate
rehabilitation programmes.
“This Government extended drug, alcohol and education rehabilitation programmes to include remand prisoners,” says Mrs
Tolley.
“By removing the automatic high security classification for remand prisoners, we are increasing the rehabilitation
opportunities available for those who don’t pose a high safety risk, as they will have a less restrictive prison regime.
“This will mean earlier, and better access to important life skills before they go to trial.”
Secondly, in line with international practice, a more flexible system is being introduced for transgender prisoners.
If the sex on their birth certificate has been changed, these prisoners will be managed in accordance with their legal
sex. Transgender prisoners whose sex on their birth certificate has not been changed can apply to be moved into a prison
with their identified gender, excluding those serving or facing charges for serious sexual offending. The Chief
Executive will consider these applications on a case by case basis.
“Corrections has taken on board concerns about the safety of transgender prisoners, and a request from the Ombudsman to
reconsider its policy,” says Mrs Tolley.
“By adopting a more flexible approach around the placement of transgender prisoners, we can address risks of
victimisation and assault, while taking into account the welfare of all prisoners.”
There are currently nine transgender offenders in the prison system.
A third regulation change will allow better options for Corrections staff around restraint, when there is an immediate
need to protect offenders from self-harm.
ENDS